FOOD NEWS
The Strange Georgia Law That Makes Eating Fried Chicken With A Fork Illegal
By Lauren Wood
The state of Georgia may be known for its ripe peaches, classic baking soda-infused sweet tea, and never-ending homegrown peanuts, but it’s also home to some of the country's most ludicrous laws. According to Thrillist, lawmakers in Gainesville, Georgia, pushed forward a mandate in 1961 that outlawed the use of cutlery when dining on fried chicken.
Gainesville is commonly referred to as the "Poultry Capital of the World" for its vast number of poultry farms, and community members drafted the 1961 law to popularize the town's moniker. Georgia Magazine notes that law enforcement officials have visited many diners for violating the town's anti-cutlery law, including government administrators and one particularly familiar face.
In 1977, the one-and-only Colonel Sanders was “arrested” for not sticking to his finger-lickin’ motto. Fortunately, this law does not have any serious repercussions, and Sanders was only “sentenced” to finishing his meal fork-free and required to come back to Gainesville for more fried chicken ventures.